", .css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link{color:inherit;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{color:#696969;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:focus,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:focus{color:#B80000;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link::after,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited::after{content:'';position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:2;}Coronavirus: Morrisons store staff get bonus for coming into work, Coronavirus: Sainsbury’s uses ‘loophole’ to keep Argos open, World needs to declare 'climate emergency' - UN. "We see customers looking for more convenient ways to walk their dogs or maximize the utility of their space," said Bakalar. Coronavirus: Morrisons store staff get bonus for coming into work, Covid: Homeless left struggling for shelter. The company's sales hit nearly $4 billion this year, a jump of almost 10% from 2019. Pets at Home is classed as an essential retailer and has been allowed to stay open during lockdown. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. The American Pet Products Association projects Americans to spend a record-high $99 billion this year on all things pet, ranging from food to veterinary care. Yes, Pets at Home stores are open although the company has now put measures in place to help stop the spread of COVID-19. "Due to a major spike in pet adoptions and families spending more time at home with their pets, we've experienced unprecedented growth this year with a 12x increase since 2019, surpassing projections by more than three times," Bakalar said. The greater amount of time people have been spending at home for the past few weeks has inspired many to provide new homes for pets, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home revealed. The UN secretary general has called on all countries to declare a climate emergency. PET-OWNERS may be panicking about how to look after animals during the coronavirus lockdown, but the good news is that pet stores are allowed to stay open. The pet store and vets group said people had been spending more as pets played an "increasingly vital role in our lives" during the crisis. Whereas for pets I would expect demand to ease, so this may well be a blip.". 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"Pet adoption rates increased both because of a need for emotional support and also just that the opportunity was there. ; Based on the limited information available to date, the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low. Direct-to-consumer premium pet gear brand founder Sophie Bakalar said her company experienced "unprecedented growth" and "surpassed projections by more than three times.". While many pets are soaking up all the extra time at home with their owners amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a new study shows that this intensified bond could be … As the saying almost goes: A dog is for life, not just for coronavirus. "I think for supermarkets it will remain at an elevated level as long as the market for eating out is paralysed. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. Pet merchandise is expected to be one of the top gift-giving categories, according to a survey by consulting firm Deloitte. © 2020 BBC. “Pets have consistently been found to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness,” Vallelunga said. Tips to Keep Your Furry Friends Safe During Holiday Celebrations From food safety to knowing about hazards around your home, the San Diego Humane Society is reminding pet … No-deal Navy threat 'irresponsible' - Tory MP, US faces bleak winter amid worst Covid wave yet, Trump's latest, legal longshot doomed by Supreme Court, Covid: Homeless left struggling for shelter. "One of the biggest concerns we've heard, especially during Covid, has been around separation anxiety and boredom. "The health and safety of our colleagues, partners, suppliers, customers and pets remains our top priority. There are an … Video, Covid: Homeless left struggling for shelter, Zodiac Killer: Code-breakers solve San Francisco killer's cipher, Brexit: No-deal Navy threat 'irresponsible', says Tobias Ellwood, Black Lives Matter: Driver charged after crashing into New York protest, Nigeria school attack: Hundreds missing in Katsina after gunmen's raid, Covid: Genes hold clues to why some people get severely ill, Covid: Christmas five-day relaxation period 'a mistake', Ruhollah Zam: Iran executes journalist accused of fanning unrest, US Supreme Court rejects Trump-backed bid to overturn election, Alfred Bourgeois: Second death row inmate executed in two days. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. It said it was seeking to "strike a balance" between providing essential services to the public alongside safeguarding the health of customers and staff. Pets at Home says it is seeing "exceptional levels of demand" amid the coronavirus outbreak. Got a confidential news tip? As coronavirus (COVID-19) develops we want to provide you with the latest information and advice for you and your pets so we've put together some helpful information for you and your furry friends to follow March 13, 2020. The best place for people and their pets is at home, together. There is no evidence that pets can spread coronavirus (COVID-19). Retail analyst Richard Hyman told the BBC that the higher demand the chain was experiencing might be temporary. It is a lot easier to have a pet when you're not going into the office as much.". We want to hear from you. A Division of NBCUniversal. Bakalar said that she doesn't see this as a "short term blip" during the pandemic, because of the emotional value of pets and the fact that people aren't simply returning their animals when the pandemic is over. As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to grow in the United States, many pet owners are likely worried about what will happen to their animal companions if they fall seriously ill or need hospitalization. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Pets, touch and COVID-19: Why our furry friends are lifesavers Dec 01, 2020 Pets linked to maintaining better mental health and reducing loneliness during lockdown, new research shows Pets might be anxious, too – at the same time most are probably glad their owners are home all day, every day. The anxiety of trying to stay safe through the COVID-19 pandemic is not reserved only for the humans enduring stay-at-home orders and social isolation. With the spike in pet adoptions during the coronavirus pandemic, pet businesses, big and small, are experiencing a spike in sales. Bakalar said that she doesn’t see this as a “short term blip” during the pandemic, because of the emotional value of pets and the fact that people aren’t simply returning their animals when the pandemic is over. Yes. Read about our approach to external linking. On average, half of those surveyed plan to spend $90 on pet items. Pets suddenly are appearing in work conference calls, expecting extra play time and providing comic relief to their owners during a stressful time. People are looking for products that will keep their pets occupied while working from home.". .css-1xgx53b-Link{font-family:ReithSans,Helvetica,Arial,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:700;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:#FFFFFF;}.css-1xgx53b-Link:hover,.css-1xgx53b-Link:focus{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}Read about our approach to external linking. For fear of a surge in homeless animals due to coronavirus, shelters are thinking outside the box to place pets in new homes. The pet-care business … "With traditional retail stores closed, we did see an opportunity for new customer acquisition with people who weren't used to shopping online for pets, which has fueled some of our growth this year.". The coronavirus pandemic is responsible for a pet boom and boom in pet business. Consider selling your home to Zillow. Online pet food sales jumped 77% in the U.S. in March 2020 YOY. Last week, school leaders criticised Pets at Home for arguing that all of its staff - including non-veterinary workers - should be classed as essential workers so they could access emergency childcare. That's the message coming from The Kennel Club, one of the UK's biggest dog welfare organisations. Some animal shelters are beginning to see an increase in pets who have become homeless after their owner died during a pandemic that has taxed healthcare systems and the economy. .css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link{color:#3F3F42;}.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited{color:#696969;}.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited{font-weight:bolder;border-bottom:1px solid #BABABA;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link:hover,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited:hover,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link:focus,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited:focus{border-bottom-color:currentcolor;border-bottom-width:2px;color:#B80000;}@supports (text-underline-offset:0.25em){.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited{border-bottom:none;-webkit-text-decoration:underline #BABABA;text-decoration:underline #BABABA;-webkit-text-decoration-thickness:1px;text-decoration-thickness:1px;-webkit-text-decoration-skip-ink:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;text-underline-offset:0.25em;}.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link:hover,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited:hover,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link:focus,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited:focus{-webkit-text-decoration-color:currentcolor;text-decoration-color:currentcolor;-webkit-text-decoration-thickness:2px;text-decoration-thickness:2px;color:#B80000;}}As designated "essential retailers", pet shops and vets can stay open during the pandemic. This advice applies to England only. There is no message on the Pets at Home website, as of Tuesday, 24th March, 2020 to say that their stores will be closing due to coronavirus. Only being allowed to go for one daily walk during the UK's coronavirus lockdown is posing an issue for the millions of people who own pets. Are pets especially helpful for mental health during the coronavirus pandemic? Juggling open houses and last-minute showings is a lot to handle, even without pets. Pets at Home said it had now shut non-essential parts of the business such as its Groom Room grooming salons. They include: Businesses are still able to take online orders and deliver items to people's homes. Coronavirus: Keeping Your Pets Safe During the COVID-19 Crisis. Pets at Home Group PLC reported Tuesday a rise in pretax profit for the first half of fiscal 2021 on higher revenue, despite the coronavirus pandemic. "I think what may have happened is that some of the panic buying that we've seen domestically has been extended for the same reason for people and pets. Pets at Home remains open across the UK, as it has been designated as an essential service due to selling pet food and other essentials. The information in this article may not reflect the most current updates on COVID-19 reporting. © 2020 CNBC LLC. PetCo has filed to be publicly traded on the stock market again on the Nasdaq under the ticker "WOOF." Bakalar noted that the biggest trend that she's seeing is customers looking for products that solve actual problems, because now there's a new swath of people who weren't expecting to have a pet in their home just eight months ago. .css-14iz86j-BoldText{font-weight:bold;}Pets at Home says it is seeing "exceptional levels of demand" amid the coronavirus outbreak. All Rights Reserved. Pets at Home - … A small number of pets worldwide, including cats and dogs, have been reported external icon to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, mostly after close contact with people with COVID-19. Pets at Home is classed as an essential retailer and has been allowed to stay open during lockdown. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. However, it warned of an uncertain outlook for 2020-21 saying it was not "immune" to the crisis. The firm is offering discounts to NHS workers but, unlike some supermarkets, has not offered its own staff pay rises for continuing to go into work. If the thought of keeping your home show-ready and getting your pet out of the house before every appointment is too much to handle, consider selling your home to Zillow through our Zillow Offers program. Here’s what pet stores are doing during coronavirus closures The government has issued a list of which "essential" retailers are allowed to stay open. The American Pet Products Association projects Americans will spend a record-high $99 billion this year on all things pet, ranging from food to veterinary care. Americans are projected to spend $99 billion on their pets this year. The retailer says only a … We continue to take all appropriate action in line with government advice and remain vigilant to the potential impact of Covid-19 as we start the new financial year. Sophie Bakalar, co-founder of direct-to-consumer premium pet gear brand Fable, told "The News with Shepard Smith" that her company has experienced a huge spike in sales this year. While it can be stressful to think about these situations, experts say planning ahead is key to ensuring the best possible outcome for your beloved pets. Boss Peter Pritchard said: "I am extremely grateful that our colleagues and operations have shown such resilience and flexibility to meet the recent exceptional level of demand from both existing and new customers. Pets at Home Group sold five specialist referral practices to veterinary company Linnaeus Group. Pets Combat Loneliness And Stress For Those Isolated During The Covid-19 Pandemic Jackie Rocheleau Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. PetCo is also expecting a 4% rise in households that own pets. "We expect pet adoption rates to continue increasing as work from home and flexible work schedules become more normal," Bakalar said. Advice for pet owners and livestock keepers on looking after the welfare of animals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In an update for the year to 26 March, the retailer said annual profits would be higher than expected due to the recent spike in demand for pet products and healthcare. Animal shelters using innovative strategies amid COVID-19 concerns. Photo: Getty Images. 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